Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 35 / Thursday, February 22, 2007 / Notices 8079 

project listed in the Special Need 

application to ensure significant scope 

changes do not occur—displacing other 

homeless veteran populations. VA may 

reject for Special Need Funding, those 

applications that significantly alter the 

original scope (38 CFR 61.62). 

A separate Special Need application 

is required for each previously funded 

Grant and Per Diem project (identified 

by unique project number; see 

Application Requirements in this 

NOFA). 

Special Need funding may not be 

used for capital improvements or to 

purchase vans or real property. 

However, the leasing of vans or real 

property may be acceptable. Questions 

regarding acceptability should be 

directed to VA’s Grant and Per Diem 

Field Office (at the number listed 

above). Applicants may not receive 

Special Need assistance to replace funds 

provided by any Federal, state or local 

government agency or program to assist 

homeless persons. 

Authority: VA’s Homeless Providers 

Grant and Per Diem Program and 

Special Need Grant are authorized by 

Public Law 109–461, § 703 and § 706 

respectively, the law is known as the 

Veterans Benefit, Health Care and 

Information Technology Act of 2006, 

codified at 38 U.S.C. 2011, 2012, 2061, 

2064. The program is implemented by 

the Final Rule codified at 38 CFR Part 

61.0. The final rule was published in the 

Federal Register on September 26, 2003, 

the regulations can be found in their 

entirety in 38 CFR 61.0 through 61.82. 

Funds made available under this Notice 

are subject to the requirements of those 

regulations. 

Allocation: Approximately $6 million 

is available for Special Need GPD grant 

component of this program. Funding 

will be for a period beginning on 

January 1, 2008 and ending on 

September 30, 2009. Based on the 

amount of funding available the 

maximum allowable funding to any one 

operational Grant and Per Diem Special 

Need recipient under this NOFA will be 

$450,000.00 per project, for the 

specified time. The goal is to create new 

Special Need services for these 

homeless veterans’ populations. 

It is important to be aware that VA 

places great emphasis on responsibility 

and accountability. VA has procedures 

in place to monitor services provided to 

homeless veterans and outcomes 

associated with the services provided in 

Grant and Per Diem-funded programs. 

Applicants should be aware of the 

following: 

VA per diem payment is limited to 

the applicant’s cost of care per eligible 

veteran minus other sources of 

payments to the applicant for furnishing 

services to homeless veterans up to the 

per day rate VA pays for State Home 

Domiciliary care. Additionally, 

potential applicants should take into 

consideration, ‘‘Grant recipients that 

concurrently receive Per Diem and 

Special Needs payments shall not be 

paid more than 100 percent of the cost 

for the bed per day, product, operation, 

personnel, or service provided’’ (38 CFR 

61.61(h)). Awardees will be required to 

support their request for Per Diem and 

Special Needs payments with adequate 

fiscal documentation as to program 

income and expenses. 

All awardees that are conditionally 

selected in response to this NOFA must 

meet the Life Safety Code of the 

National Fire and Protection 

Association as it relates to their specific 

facility. VA will conduct an inspection 

or review a current inspection prior to 

awardees being able to submit request 

for payment to ensure this requirement 

is met. 

Each grant awardee will have the VA 

liaison that was appointed for its 

corresponding Grant and Per Diem 

program monitor services to ensure the 

Special Need grant is being met and will 

include at least an annual review of 

each program’s progress toward meeting 

internal goals and objectives in helping 

the Special Need homeless veterans as 

identified in each applicant’s original 

Special Need application. Monitoring 

for all participants will include a review 

of the agency’s income and expenses as 

they relate to this project to ensure Per 

Diem and Special Need payments are 

accurate. 

Monitoring of Homeless Special Need 

participants and services provided by 

Grant and Per Diem recipients will be 

accomplished according to the 

Northeast Program Evaluation Center 

(NEPEC) procedure. These monitoring 

procedures will be used to determine 

successful accomplishment of outcomes 

for each collaborative partnership. 

Funding Priorities: None. 

Agreement and Funding Actions: 

Conditionally selected applicants will 

complete a funding agreement with VA 

in accordance with 38 CFR 61.61 and 

provide any additional information as 

required by VA. Upon signature by the 

Secretary or designated representative, 

final selection will be completed. 

Funding for operational Grant and Per 

Diem applicants that are finally selected 

will not exceed the period specified in 

this NOFA. A condition to obtain the 

Special Need grant is for the applicant 

to maintain the original (grant or per 

diem) program for which the Special 

Need grant is sought. 

Application Requirements: A separate 

application is needed for each project 

number which you are requesting 

Special Needs funding. A project 

number is the last two digits of the year 

funded, the sequence the application 

was received, and the state abbreviation 

for the project location, (i.e., 00–125–

MA would have been funded in the year 

2000, the 125th application received, 

and the project is located in 

Massachusetts). If you do not know your 

project number call VA’s Grant and Per 

Diem Field Office (toll-free) at 1–877–

332–0334. 

The package includes the applicant’s 

required forms and certifications. 

Selections will be made based on 

criteria described in the application and 

additional information as specified in 

this NOFA. 

Applicants who are selected will be 

notified of any further additional 

information needed to confirm or clarify 

information provided in the application. 

Applicants will then be notified of the 

deadline to submit such information. If 

an applicant is unable to meet any 

conditions for grant award within the 

specified time frame, VA reserves the 

right to not award funds and to use the 

funds available for other grant and per 

diem applicants. 

Dated: February 16, 2007. 

R. James Nicholson, 

Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 

[FR Doc. E7–3029 Filed 2–21–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8320–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS 

Fund Availability Under VA Homeless 

Providers Grant and Per Diem Program 

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans 

Affairs (VA) is announcing the 

availability of funds for currently 

operational VA Grant and Per Diem 

Special Need Grant Recipients in 

conjunction with their collaborative VA 

Special Need partners to make reapplications for assistance under the 

Special Need grant component of VA’s 

Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem 

(GPD) Program. The focus of this Notice 

of Fund Availability (NOFA) is to 

encourage applicants to continue to 

deliver services to the homeless Special 

Need veteran population. This Notice 

contains information concerning the 

program, application process, and 

amount of funding available. 

DATES: An original completed grant 

application (plus three completed 


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8080 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 35 / Thursday, February 22, 2007 / Notices 

collated copies) for each project seeking 

assistance under the VA’s Homeless 

Providers Grant and Per Diem Program 

Special Need grant component must be 

received in the Grant and Per Diem 

Field Office, by 4 p.m. Eastern Time on 

April 4, 2007. Applications submitted 

through Grants.gov will be the only 

electronic format accepted. Applications 

may not be sent by facsimile (FAX) or 

other electronic means (e-mail). In the 

interest of fairness to all competing 

applicants, this deadline is firm as to 

date and hour, and VA will treat as 

ineligible for consideration any 

application that is received after the 

deadline. This includes applications 

through Grants.gov. Applicants should 

take this practice into account and make 

early submission of their material to 

avoid any risk of loss of eligibility 

brought about by electronic 

transmission problems, unanticipated 

delays or other delivery-related 

problems. 

For a Copy of the Application 

Package: Download directly from VA’s 

Grant and Per Diem Program Web page 

at: http://www.va.gov/homeless/ 

page.cfm?pg=3 or call the Grant and Per 

Diem Program at (toll-free) 1–877–332–

0334. In this package is information on 

Grants.gov submission should 

applicants so desire. For a document 

relating to the VA’s Homeless Providers 

Grant and Per Diem Program, see the 

Final Rule codified at 38 CFR Part 61.0. 

Submission of Application: An 

original completed and collated grant 

application (plus three copies) for each 

project must be submitted to the 

following address: VA Homeless 

Providers Grant and Per Diem Field 

Office, 10770 N. 46th Street, Suite C–

200, Tampa, FL 33617. Applications 

must be received in the Grant and Per 

Diem Field office by the application 

deadline. Applications must arrive as a 

complete package. Materials arriving 

separately will not be included in the 

application package for consideration. If 

all materials are not included in the 

application package, this may result in 

the application being rejected or not 

funded. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. 

Guy Liedke, VA Homeless Providers 

Grant and Per Diem Program, 

Department of Veterans Affairs, 10770 

N. 46th Street, Suite C–200, Tampa, FL 

33617; (toll-free) 1–877–332–0334. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 

Notice announces the availability of 

funds for assistance under VA’s 

Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem 

Program for currently operational Grant 

and Per Diem Special Need recipients 

and their collaborative VA partners to 

obtain grant assistance with additional 

operational costs that would not 

otherwise be incurred but for the fact 

that the recipient is providing 

supportive housing beds and services or 

at service centers for the Special Needs 

of the centers for the following homeless 

veteran populations: 

Chronically mentally ill; 

Women, including women who have 

care of minor dependents; 

Frail elderly; or 

Terminally ill. 

Definitions of these populations are 

contained in 38 CFR 61.1 Definitions. 

Eligible applicants should review these 

definitions to ensure their proposed 

populations meet the specific 

requirements. 

VA is pleased to issue this NOFA for 

the Homeless Providers Grant and Per 

Diem program as a part of the effort to 

end chronic homelessness among our 

Nation’s veterans. Funding applied for 

under this Notice may be used for: the 

provision of service, operation, or 

personnel to facilitate the following 

with regard to the targeted group: 

Chronically Mentally Ill: 

(1) Help participants join in and 

engage with the community; 

(2) Facilitate reintegration with the 

community and provide services that 

may optimize reintegration such as lifeskills education, recreational activities, 

and follow up case management; 

(3) Ensure that participants have 

opportunities and services for reestablishing relationships with family; 

(4) Ensure adequate supervision, 

including supervision of medication 

and monitoring of medication 

compliance; and 

(5) Provide opportunities for 

participants, either directly or through 

referral, to obtain other services 

particularly relevant for a chronically 

mentally ill population, such as 

vocational development, benefits 

management, fiduciary or money 

management services, medication 

compliance, and medication education. 

Women, including women who have 

care of minor dependents: 

(1) Ensure transportation for women 

and their children, especially for health 

care and educational needs; 

(2) Provide directly or offer referrals 

for adequate and safe child care; 

(3) Ensure children’s health care 

needs are met especially age appropriate 

wellness visits and immunizations; and 

(4) Address safety and security issues 

including segregation procedures from 

other program participants if deemed 

appropriate. 

Frail Elderly: 

(1) Ensure the safety of the residents 

in the facility to include preventing 

harm and exploitation; 

(2) Ensure opportunities to keep 

residents mentally and physically agile 

to the fullest extent through the 

incorporation of structured activities, 

physical activity, and plans for social 

engagement within the program and in 

the community; 

(3) Provide opportunities for 

participants to address life transitional 

issues and separation and/or loss issues; 

(4) Provide access to assistance 

devices such as walkers, grippers, or 

other devices necessary for optimal 

functioning; 

(5) Ensure adequate supervision, 

including supervision of medication 

and monitoring of medication 

compliance; and 

(6) Provide opportunities for 

participants either directly or through 

referral for other services particularly 

relevant for the frail elderly, including 

services or programs addressing 

emotional, social, spiritual, and 

generative needs. 

Terminally Ill: 

(1) Help participants address lifetransition and life-end issues; 

(2) Ensure that participants are 

afforded timely access to hospice 

services; 

(3) Provide opportunities for 

participants to engage in ‘‘tasks of 

dying,’’ or activities of ‘‘getting things in 

order’’ or other therapeutic actions that 

help resolve end of life issues and 

enable transition and closure; 

(4) Ensure adequate supervision 

including supervision of medication 

and monitoring of medication 

compliance; and 

(5) Provide opportunities for 

participants either directly or through 

referral for other services particularly 

relevant for terminally ill such as legal 

counsel and pain management. 

VA is seeking, through this NOFA, to 

renew previous grant and per diem 

Special Need providers and their VA 

collaborative partners to continue to 

serve the Special Need veteran 

populations. 

No part of a Special Need grant may 

be used for any purpose that would 

change significantly the scope of the 

specific Grant and Per Diem project for 

which a Capital Grant and Per Diem was 

awarded. As a part of the review 

process, VA will review the original 

project listed in the Special Need 

application to ensure significant scope 

changes do not occur—displacing other 

homeless veteran populations. VA may 

reject for Special Need Funding those 

applications that significantly alter the 

original scope (38 CFR 61.62). 

A separate Special Need application 

is required for each previously funded 

Grant and Per Diem project (identified 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 35 / Thursday, February 22, 2007 / Notices 8081 

by unique project number (see 

Application Requirements in this 

NOFA). 

Special Need funding may not be 

used for capital improvements or to 

purchase vans or real property. 

However, the leasing of vans or real 

property may be acceptable. Questions 

regarding acceptability should be 

directed to VA’s Grant and Per Diem 

Field Office (at the number listed 

above). Applicants may not receive 

Special Need assistance to replace funds 

provided by any Federal, state or local 

government agency or program to assist 

homeless persons. 

Authority: VA’s Homeless Providers 

Grant and Per Diem Program and 

Special Need Grant are authorized by 

Public Law 109–461, § 703 and § 706 

respectively, the law is known as the 

Veterans Benefit, Health Care and 

Information Technology Act of 2006, 

codified at 38 U.S.C. 2011, 2012, 2061, 

2064. The program is implemented by 

the Final Rule codified at 38 CFR Part 

61.0. The Final Rule was published in 

the Federal Register on September 26, 

2003, the regulations can be found in 

their entirety in 38 CFR 61.0 through 

61.82. Funds made available under this 

Notice are subject to the requirements of 

those regulations. 

Allocation: Approximately $6 million 

is available for current Special Need 

Grant and Per Diem grant component of 

this program. Funding will be for a 

period beginning on January 1, 2008, 

and ending on September 30, 2009. 

Based on the amount of funding 

available, providers should include any 

projected excess funds still remaining 

from their previous award when 

calculating and submitting their budgets 

for this NOFA. Previously awarded 

funding will be used first followed by 

the funding from this NOFA for the 

delivery of services. Based on Grant and 

Per Diem funding availability, 

approximately, $8 million is expected to 

be made available over the specified 

time (internally) for the current VA 

collaborative partners. 

The goal is to the maximum extent 

possible is to ensure a continuation of 

Special Need services to homeless 

veterans and their VA collaborative 

partners. 

It is important to be aware that VA 

places great emphasis on responsibility 

and accountability. VA has procedures 

in place to monitor services provided to 

homeless veterans and outcomes 

associated with the services provided in 

Grant and Per Diem-funded programs. 

Applicants should be aware of the 

following: 

VA per diem payment is limited to 

the applicant’s cost of care per eligible 

veteran, minus other sources of 

payments to the applicant for furnishing 

services to homeless veterans up to the 

per day rate VA pays for State Home 

Domiciliary care. Additionally, 

potential applicants should take into 

consideration, ‘‘Grant recipients that 

concurrently receive per diem and 

Special Needs payments shall not be 

paid more than 100 percent of the cost 

for the bed per day, product, operation, 

personnel, or service provided’’ [38 CFR 

61.61(h)]. Awardees will be required to 

support their request for per diem and 

Special Needs payments with adequate 

fiscal documentation as to program 

income and expenses. 

All awardees that are conditionally 

selected in response to this NOFA must 

meet the Life Safety Code of the 

National Fire and Protection 

Association as it relates to their specific 

facility. VA will conduct an inspection 

or review a current inspection prior to 

awardees being able to submit request 

for payment to ensure this requirement 

is met. 

Each Grant awardee will have the VA 

liaison that was appointed for its 

corresponding Grant and Per Diem 

program monitor services to ensure the 

Special Need grant is being met and will 

include at least an annual review of 

each program’s progress toward meeting 

internal goals and objectives in helping 

the Special Need homeless veterans as 

identified in each applicant’s original 

Special Need application. Monitoring 

for all participants will include a review 

of the agency’s income and expenses as 

they relate to this project to ensure per 

diem and Special Need payments are 

accurate. 

Monitoring of Homeless Special Need 

participants and services provided by 

Grant and Per Diem recipients will be 

accomplished according to the 

Northeast Program Evaluation Center 

(NEPEC) procedure. These monitoring 

procedures will be used to determine 

successful accomplishment of outcomes 

for each collaborative partnership. 

Funding Priorities: None. 

Agreement and Funding Actions: 

Conditionally selected applicants will 

complete a funding agreement with VA 

in accordance with 38 CFR 61.61 and 

provide any additional information as 

required by VA. Upon signature by the 

Secretary or designated representative, 

final selection will be completed. 

Funding for operational Grant and Per 

Diem applicants that are finally selected 

will not exceed the period specified in 

this NOFA. A condition to obtain the 

Special Need Grant is for the applicant 

to maintain the original (grant or per 

diem) program for which the Special 

Need grant is sought. 

Application Requirements: A separate 

application is needed for each project 

number, which you are requesting 

Special Needs Funding. In addition, 

current Special Need recipients should 

also list their Special Need Project 

number. A project number is the last 

two digits of the year funded, the 

sequence the application was received, 

and the state abbreviation for the project 

location, (i.e., 00–125–MA would have 

been funded in the year 2000, the 125th 

application received, and the project is 

located in Massachusetts). If you do not 

know your project number call VA’s 

Grant and Per Diem Field Office (tollfree) at 1–877–332–0334. 

The grant application requirements 

are specified in the application package 

and the following additional 

information is required by this NOFA. 

a. Applicants should include in their 

submissions documentation of 

successful past performance. 

b. If the previous Special Needs grant 

was a collaborative the submission must 

include the appropriate performance 

data from the VA collaborative partner 

that the VA met its objectives or 

provided its duties as outlined in the 

original MOA. 

c. An updated MOA signed by the 

VAMC Director and the applicant 

agency Director specifying the 

collaborative and specific duties of the 

non-profit provider and those of the VA 

Medical Center that will be 

accomplished under this grant. 

d. Complete new budgets for the 

provider and collaborative partner with 

costs based on past costs incurred and 

evidence of the same. Based on the 

amount of funding available providers 

should include any projected excess 

funds still remaining from their 

previous award when calculating and 

submitting their budgets for this NOFA. 

Previously awarded funding will be 

used first, followed by the funding from 

this NOFA for the delivery of services. 

Applicants having questions with 

regard to the projected amount of 

funding from previous Special Need 

awards should contact the Grant and Per 

Diem Field Office prior to application 

for this NOFA. 

The package includes the applicant’s 

required forms and certifications. 

Selections will be made based on 

criteria described in the application and 

additional information as specified in 

this NOFA. 

Applicants who are selected will be 

notified of any further additional 

information needed to confirm or clarify 

information provided in the application. 

Applicants will then be notified of the 

deadline to submit such information. If 

an applicant is unable to meet any 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
8082 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 35 / Thursday, February 22, 2007 / Notices 

conditions for grant award within the 

specified time frame, VA reserves the 

right to not award funds and to use the 

funds available for other grant and per 

diem applicants. 

Dated: February, 16, 2007. 

R. James Nicholson, 

Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 

[FR Doc. E7–3031 Filed 2–21–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8320–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS 

Blue Ribbon Panel on VA Medical 

School Affiliations; Notice of Meeting 

The Department of Veterans Affairs 

(VA) gives notice under Public Law 92–

463 (Federal Advisory Committee Act) 

that the Blue Ribbon Panel on VAMedical School Affiliations has 

scheduled a meeting for March 27, 2007, 

in Room 542 at 1800 G Street NW., 

Washington, DC. The meeting will begin 

at 8:30 a.m. and will end at 3 p.m. The 

meeting is open to the public. 

The purpose of the Panel is to advise 

the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 

through the Under Secretary for Health, 

in issues related to a comprehensive 

philosophical framework to enhance 

VA’s partnerships with medical schools 

and affiliated institutions. 

The panelists will review VA’s 

current affiliations with medical schools 

and establish the future directions of the 

Panel. The Panel will receive 

background presentations and issue 

papers on various topics that are 

relevant to the Panel’s deliberations. 

Interested persons may attend and 

present oral statements to the Panel. 

Oral presentations will be limited to five 

minutes or less, depending on the 

number of participants. Interested 

parties may also provide written 

comments for review by the Panel prior 

to the meeting or at any time, by e-mail 

to Gloria.Holland@va.gov or by mail to 

Gloria J. Holland, PhD Special Assistant 

for Policy and Planning to the Chief 

Academic Affiliations Officer, 810 

Vermont Avenue, NW., (14), 

Washington, DC 20420. 

Dated: February 15, 2007. 

By Direction of the Secretary. 

E. Philip Riggin, 

Committee Management Officer. 

[FR Doc. 07–785 Filed 2–21–07; 8:45am] 

BILLING CODE 8320–01–M 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS 

Advisory Committee on Former 

Prisoners of War; Notice of Meeting 

The Department of Veterans Affairs 

gives notice under Public Law 92–463 

(Federal Advisory Committee Act) that 

the Advisory Committee on Former 

Prisoners of War (FPOW) has scheduled 

a meeting for April 16–18, 2007, at the 

Department of Veterans Affairs Central 

Office, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., 

Washington, DC. The meeting will be 

held in room 630 on April 16 and room 

830 on April 17–18, from 9 a.m. to 4 

p.m. each day. The meeting is open to 

the public. 

The purpose of the Committee is to 

advise the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

on the administration of benefits under 

title 38, United States Code, for veterans 

who are former prisoners of war, and to 

make recommendations on the needs of 

such veterans for compensation, health 

care, and rehabilitation. 

The agenda for April 16 will begin 

with an introduction of Committee 

members, remarks from dignitaries, a 

review of Committee reports, an update 

of activities since the last meeting, and 

a period for FPOW veterans and/or the 

public to address the Committee. On 

April 17, the Committee will hear 

reports from the Veterans Health 

Administration and Veterans Benefits 

Administration. The Committee will 

also hear an update on Robert E. 

Mitchell Center for Prisoners of War 

studies. On April 18, the Committee’s 

medical and administrative work groups 

will meet to discuss their activities and 

report back to the Committee. 

Additionally, the Committee will review 

and analyze comments presented during 

the meeting to compile a report to be 

sent to the Secretary. 

Members of the public may direct 

questions or submit written statements 

for review by the Committee in advance 

of the meeting to Mr. Bradley G. Mayes, 

Director, Compensation and Pension 

Service (21), Department of Veterans 

Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., 

Washington, DC 20420. Submitted 

materials must be received by April 1, 

2007. 

Dated: February 14, 2007. 

By Direction of the Secretary. 

E. Philip Riggin, 

Committee Management Officer. 

[FR Doc. 07–784 Filed 2–21–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8320–01–M 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES